For
some, the trip home every evening after work would be marked by the
sight of huge cashew plantations lining up the road. It was sight
truly a sight to behold, as red and yellow cashews would adorn the
trees with their bright hues, burdening the trees down with their
weight. Anyone was free to pluck a few of them and cherish the true
flavour of Goa. This year, seeing even two cashews on one tree turned
out to be a rarity. The villages, whose cashew tenders are dependent
on the fruit for their cash flow, are left with nothing but a handful
of cashew nuts. One needs to ask then, “What went terribly wrong
with the cashews and mangoes this season?”
Dr
A R Desai is a senior scientist in horticulture at Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) Old Goa and has been studying fruit
trees like cashew and mangoes for years. He says the main factors
that affect the flowering of the trees are climate change,
temperature fluctuation, changes in the temperature from day to
night, and the rain pattern. “Farmers have the habit of taking care
of the trees closer to them bearing fruit, and don’t follow
protective agriculture throughout the year. Those who take good care
of their trees have not been affected much, compared to those who
don’t take up management practices of keeping the tree safe from
pests and adding nutrients to the trees. There has been a 20-25
percent drop in the yield this year for sure, compared to last year
for those who manage their cops but for the rest it is nearly 40-45
percent drop,” informs Dr Desai.
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This
season, cashews displayed shy flowering, and the high temperatures
made the flowers drop or late flowering took place. When not tended
to, there is a change in the trees physiological attributes. “Nobody
takes management seriously. Since we have experimental areas in ICAR,
our crops have not suffered much. Though there are climatic changes
and unexpected circumstances, we can still minimise the adverse
affects to the trees,” says Dr Desai.
He
further explains, “After running a marathon, an athlete will be
completely exhausted. In the same way, cashew and mango trees run an
entire marathon, from flowering to bearing fruits, and are exhausted
at the end of the season. They need the most attention at this time.
They are thirsty and hungry and nutrients have to be provided. Rain
provides them with moisture, but they also require manure. Cashews
can be enhanced with leaf compost and the stems should be treated for
pests. For mangoes as well, trees can be treated with cow dung or
vermi-compost to facilitate healthy and better yielding trees.”
Cashews
and mangoes require attention throughout the year. Prior to the
flowering period in the months of August to October, the tree needs
rigour and strength, and has to be given nutrients. Dr A R Desai
advises farmers to grow a variety of high yielding crops. “Orchard
management requires at least 3-4 varieties of cashews and mangoes to
be grown on a single piece of land, so that if one variety fails, the
other can come to the rescue of the farmer. There are very few mango
orchards with usually one or two trees around the house. But it is
better to grow varieties that will grow over a period of time and
that can be used for alternative purposes, like pickling mangoes. I
advise farmers to grow three varieties like Mankurad, Malgesh,
Hillario and Kesar, which are commercial trees and even mangoes which
are popular for pickling or commercial mangoes in their raw stage. A
small orchard can have 15 trees of one variety, which can make three
varieties into 45 trees,” explains Dr Desai.
Miguel
Braganza, secretary, Botanical Society of Goa says, “ The people of
the talukas of Canacona, Sattari and Sanguem are going to be hit this
year with a low yield of cashews, as that is their cash flow which
allows them to invest in growing rice and buying fertilisers for the
coming season. Since mining is also in a slump, they will be facing a
financial crunch this season. However, they can grow other crops like
pineapples, tapioca, turmeric which are also commercial crops, and
climate changes may affect one crop but the others can insure a good
yield,” says Miguel who adds that a one kilogram of cashews that
cost Rs 600-650 last year, can go up to Rs 900 this year.
The
gradually disappearing green cover of Goa also plays an important
role in the climate change. “There is rapid development taking
place in the state with large plantations being cut down for hotels,
factories, industries, construction in fields, and even widening of
roads, resulting in the cutting down ancient trees. There has to be a
balance between cutting down and growing trees, but we often get the
reply that there is ‘no place to grow trees’. I hope that
everybody utilises the space on the ground to grow fruit bearing
trees like chickoos and guavas; even in their balconies and terraces,
in pots. It adds to the coolness in the environment and fresh air,”
concludes Miguel.
